Can Europe adapt its regulatory frameworks and foster stronger public-private collaboration to compete with authoritarian states that prioritize speed and scalability over ethics and transparency?

(c) Atlantic Council

This MSC side event will explore the growing competition among global powers over emerging defense technologies. As artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies reshape international power dynamics, regulatory challenges are becoming a key point of contention between democratic and authoritarian regimes. While authoritarian regimes are unburdened by democratic processes they exploit centralized governance to rapidly advance defense capabilities. Conversely, Europe struggles with funding gaps, fragmented regulations, and limited public-private collaboration, while the U.S.’s more flexible regulatory framework enables faster innovation. This raises critical questions about how democratic systems like the EU and the U.S. can harmonize regulations, innovate funding mechanisms, and strengthen collaboration to outpace authoritarian regimes in this AI-innovation competition.

This panel invites policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to explore these issues, offering actionable insights to help democracies secure their leadership in AI-driven defense technologies while upholding core values.

Our speakers will be announced here soon

Information on in-person registration and livestreaming will be announced here soon

This event is facilitated in cooperation with the Stiftung Bayerisches Amerikahaus gGmbH – Bavarian Center for Transatlantic Relations

This event is facilitated in cooperation with the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung

This is an official side event of the Munich Security Conference 2025.